Reflective Sarah

"sometimes he's sad, sometimes he's happy"

We had a great getaway to see Will, Jennifer, Caleb and Noah! We got there midday Saturday and relaxed and had lunch. Caleb had been in Boston with friends so after he got back we went out to go bowling and then got dinner at Chickie and Pete's (delicious!). We stayed at the Hyatt Place in their town. After a delicious hotel breakfast (I don't know why I like hotel eggs so much, but I do!), we went back to their house for Dunkin then headed home. It was a fun visit! 

I'm on Day 4 of fasting and it is going well. I am not struggling with it at this point and to be honest, I feel better than I have in a few weeks!  My fasting window starts at 7pm and ends at 12:pm although sometimes i go a bit behind.  My day looks like this:  6am I have Natural Calm and Benefiber in hot water  Cup of decaf coffee with Vital Proteins and Coffeemate sugar free  Cup of half-caff either in the car or after I get to school  If I am hungry, bone broth at 9am. Drink about 20 oz of water throughout the morning.  12pm -- I have a smoothie. Right now my smoothie is spinach, 1/4 cup blueberries, 1 tbsp flax seed, 1 cup coconut milk unsweetened, and 1 scoop of Vega one.  I snack on a breakstones cottage cheese afterwards  Snacks could be a piece of cheese, a protein bar, or yogurt and GF bread  Dinner I am trying to prioritize protein since that is my one major meal of the day.  I treat myself to nutella if my macros allow it. I also have sugar free jello on hand.  Herbal t...

So I've started intermittent fasting this week. I've been listening to a podcast by Dr Mindy Pelz, she has a book called "Fast Like a Girl". I started fasting during what they're doing as a three day fast. I am fasting starting at 7 pm. I break my fast at 12 pm with a smoothie. I drink water, coffee and bone broth at 9am.  It's been helpful for me to sort through hunger cues and what they really mean. I am hoping it will help me lose some of this extra weight, as well… 

Get 3 peppers Cut using the chopper. Cook in a pan over medium heat til soft  Set on a plate  Cook ground Turkey until brown Add cumin and garlic powder Add cooked peppers  Add campbell's Thai curry sauce  Enjoy!  $15 for all the items, 5 servings 

https://www.greatgrubdelicioustreats.com/apple-cinnamon-pretzel-salad/?fbclid=IwAR1UYQevC-jwAgzua-uGtHKyWLJVVvnYKAi_vbyEcgnT2WvJFU6kuwpnTaE_aem_AaLw9B-otgkLr1ftg_EAE5ealdEZZd3xDDFRWYjRfwTkTsqBZOnjA9KNnDZ2wr9ATRg&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

Today was a rainy fall day, as tropical depression Ophelia came through. Sam and I went to the library for a bit and Liam walked on his own to Starbucks! 

 https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/chocolate-chip-coconut-flour-banana-bread-gluten-free-paleo/  I substituted butter for the almond butter, which was a mistake... I probably should have substituted peanut butter! :) 

This suuuucks 

When I put Sam down for his nap today he said "dank ooo" (thank you) Tonight at bedtime I put him down and he said "good night!"  Now he is saying good night to his toys, Walton style. "Night night sea horse, night night shark, night night Thomas, night night bus...."  I might just go scoop him up and hold him all night long... 

Matt kept Liam during the day for a few days this week over break. That was the first time he's ever done that! I decided to put Sam in daycare as well, just to stick to our routine. Without realizing or planning it, I ended up with two kid free days. Holy moley.  Yesterday i worked on Sam's room and took the dresser downstairs for Odila to take. Then i went to Christine's. She was in a similar situation so we met up for coffee. Such fun times!  I went for a run and them I showered.  Today i spent the morning organizing the first floor, putting dishes away etc. Then i met Jill and Christine for coffee at Ragged Edge and a walk. We walked to the school but then went to Culps Hill. Then we took the long way down. 5 miles later... what a day.  I enjoyed these two days. I really needed the break!

Explaining faith to my autistic kiddo. After leaving my mom's house on Christmas Eve. Liam asked about Jesus coming again. How do we know? Does everyone believe that? We talked a bit about the Book of Revelations and then I recited a bit from the Apostles Creed. Liam was quiet. Then: "Okay, but who is seated at the left hand of God?"

 So Samuel woke up on Sunday 12/18 with a runny nose. It wasn't bad so I wasn't too worried. But by Wednesday he was full on sick, fever and everything. He was sleeping horribly. I'd put him down at 7, he'd wake up at 9, 10:30, 1, 3, and 4:45. Usually at 4:45 he'd be up for the day 🥱😴 I took him to the doctor in Fri the 23rd. Ear infection. Wah! Sadly by that point my mom was getting sick too. So our Christmas plans got thrown off a bit. Mom didn't come to Christmas dinner and our family gathering got rescheduled to Thursday. It is 6am on Tues 12/27 and Sam finally slept through the night! 

 I made this recipe for a friend who just had surgery. It turned out well, I think!  https://www.tosimplyinspire.com/classic-meatless-baked-ziti.html#recipe

We had SO much rain over the last few days. It was possibly going to be a winter storm but the temperatures were too warm. So we got RAIN! So much rain. Given the drainage issues in my backyard, I was very worried!  Yesterday morning I checked the basement. Still dry. But the dump pump was running every 20 seconds and I could hear water in the basement... so I went to check the drain pipe. It was inundated! Covered in water, the water just wasn't clearing out.  So I cleared it! I dug out the grass around the drain and then realized it wasn't moving downward in the swale. So I trenched out the swale as well. It was a muddy task but so worth it. Temps dropped to 3 degrees overnight and the groundwater froze and expanded!  The first picture is just after I cleared a bunch of leaves from the pipe. Then me digging, then the frozen area this morning. 

Chrissy had Covid last week. So I got to keep Liam for what would have been Matt's days. I've had him for 9 straight days! 9 glorious days.  We have had such a wonderful time. To be honest I haven't wanted a break. I haven't wanted time away from him. I've been savoring every single blessed moment with him here. He's been so sweet with Sam and so affectionate with both of us. I've gotten so many hugs!

They tell you to hold the baby. They tell you that everything else can fall by the wayside. They tell you to forget about your to-do list, because that sweet, little babe is so worth snuggling. Worth the unwashed dishes and unswept floors. But they fail to mention how that baby grows. That little one who once rested so perfectly upon your chest doesn’t fit there quite so well anymore. And you forget to hold the baby. You forget that everything else can fall by the wayside. You forget that it’s okay to forget about your to-do list, because that sweet, bigger babe is still worth snuggling. Worth the unfolded laundry and unloaded dishwasher. And that babe, your growing babe, still needs you. Still needs you to focus on her alone. Still needs you to leave the papers piled on the counter to attend the tea party. Still needs you to pause the vacuuming for an impromptu game of hide-and-seek. Still needs you to take him in your arms and envelop him in your unconditional love. Because there wil...